Thread: Mike Ratliff's Wapiencias

Now that this area has been created, I thought this would be a good place for those of us who have benefited from Mike Ratcliff's Wapi group buy deal to talk about our experiences with the fine Polish razors he is making available shave ready to the new guys around here.

I did not shave today simply because I suspected that I would get my Wapi in so when it arrived abut 45 minutes ago I was ready to go... a quick visit to the strop and I was shaving... Boy was it sharp! The hair jumped right off my face.

I will most definitely give this some sort of weight reduction, either replacement scales or removing some stock from the metal scales on it because its pretty top heavy, but MAN did is shave nice!

DO NOT hesitate in purchasing one of these from Mike! Its a great shaver and Mike makes it sharp as you please. I don't have a lot of experience, but it shaves just as well as either my German or American blades, if not better, and they are both good blades.

NOTE: The weird lines in the scales and blade are reflections of the ceiling tiles, not scratches.

Mike rocks....his razors are always nice and sharp and just as described. I've bought several from him in the last few months and hope to add more to that list in the future!

I got mine today. I still have yet to shave today, but I am gonna be using it in about an hour. ((tick-tock-tick-tock)) I will do a longer post after the shave to let you all know how it went.

And the time goes by:

O.K. so an a bit over an hour has passed, and I have just had a WONDERFUL shave. The extra weight of the stainless scales made for a much different shave then I am use to. However, I have to say that I LOVED it! All I did was give it about 20 goes on the strop, and it shaved like a dream. No pulling, or tugging. Just a smooth glide over the face.

Bottom line: If you dont have one already, you need to get one. This would make the perfect razor to take camping, on trips. It is all steel, so there is no chance of breaking it. And it shaves a treat!

Originally Posted by Windcalmer

It is all steel, so there is no chance of breaking it...

Don't you believe it...
The United States post office has found a way...
I think they ran this one over with a forklift...
It's a good thing I bought extras...
The funny thing about this, is the recipient is only about a 90 minute drive from me, I could have driven it to him faster, and it would have been in better shape...

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

Don't you believe it...
The United States post office has found a way...
I think they ran this one over with a forklift...
It's a good thing I bought extras...
The funny thing about this, is the recipient is only about a 90 minute drive from me, I could have driven it to him faster, and it would have been in better shape...

Oooh!! That hurts!

A bit curious JMS, what happens in such a case as yours?

I am not certain I understand the question, Chady?

The broken Wapi wasn't his, it was someone else's...
What happens is I send out a replacement as fast as I can and then go and chew out the post office...
How the hell did they do it?
They even bent the scales...

You guys didn't pay for a service, you paid for a result, the result is a shave ready Wapi, and that is what I will deliver.

Received, two of my Wapi's last night and stood in front of the mirror planning my morning attack. Okay then, this morning everyone heads off...not me as I have the good fortune to work from home on Mondays and Fridays.

The ritual begins, shower, dry off everything but skull, yes my face is part of it so it stays wet. Proraso shave cream lather up and it begins, first few passes and it was all over! Once the angle was set in my mind and hand, it was a whole new shaving experience. DE would require me to rinse the blade at least 6 time before my right side was done for the first pass. Not so with the straight, you can leave the lather there and just keep shaving!!

Switched hands for the left side and the same experience, once I felt the angle I could go from the top of the ear to the jaw line without rinsing the blade. It doesn't clog like my Merkur Futur, as it is set on 4.5 and always requires a good run under the tap before I can continue.

Mike excellent job in the honing, WTG and XTG gave me almost a DE Feather blade shave with only two lather ups. I am sure in a few days I will feel comfortable enough to go ATG and get the same pure shave. Noting of course that this was pretty darn good. GREAT JOB MIKE!

Now it gets crazy! I put down the Wapi and pick up the Merkur to shave my skull. After refreshing my head with hot water and lathering the right side up. I stare and put down the Merkur and pick up the WAPI!!! That's if folks... Shave my bald head in about the same time it takes me with the Merkur (no rinsing).

Nicked my face twice, stupid me..staring at the belly of the blade not watching the point of the damn thing while left handed. Head was perfect, felt really comfortable and after the alum block and my normal post shave routine, I am a happy boy

Regards

Gerard

This one looks like it might bite a little - make sure you use lots of alumn afterwards.

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

Don't you believe it...
The United States post office has found a way...
I think they ran this one over with a forklift...
It's a good thing I bought extras...
The funny thing about this, is the recipient is only about a 90 minute drive from me, I could have driven it to him faster, and it would have been in better shape...